Tarzan was taken to a wooden stake in the center of the hut and tied up tightly by the cannibal warriors. Spears were kept poised at his chest and throat as warriors bound his wrists behind the stake with rope, then secured his arms. Two more warriors bound his feet and legs together with more rope. Once secured, the warriors stepped away fom Tarzan, and into the hut stepped the cannibal chief Mbonga, sneering cruelly.